hobbs battle fast-fashion

Quaint UK retail chain Hobbs are taking steps to fight fast-fashion wars reports Financial Times. Apparently the likes of Primark have ‘tested their business skills’. Victorious with 30 per cent growth under it’s wide leather belt and a rise in ladylike trends, Hobbs recently employed various heavy-weight fashion corporates to fight their retail wars with shots of buying skills and stabs of high margin accessories. A riposte to fast-fashion that was well needed.

The article then goes to explain why trends that produce fast-track profit are a known evil to the fashion industry in more ways than one. Derek Lovelock of the Mosaic Group (Whistles, Karen Millen, Oasis and Coast) says ‘Whistles [in particular] made several mistakes, including slavishly chasing trends’. Apparently by doing this ‘the retailer alienates customers by switching fashion too quickly and dramatically’. PSFK are inclined to agree.

It is this high level of capitalism that gives fashion a bad name. Fashion is an expression of a person’s identity not just a get rich plan for some entrepreneur. Although Hobbs may not be equitable to avant-garde style, their approach at least, seems more discerning than other retailers.